Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Samoa
Samoa: relations with "Israel" since 1977, the pro-Israel stance of Prime Minister Schmidt, Christian Zionism, and Samoa's UN votes
Samoa established relations with "Israel" in 1977.[1] On taking office in September 2025, Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Fosi Schmidt pledged: "I stand for Israel, the land of God."[2]
Christian Zionism
According to Inside Story, Schmidt was sworn in wearing a scarf in the colours of the Israeli flag and holding a shofar, said Samoa was founded under the "God of Israel", and added: "It doesn't matter if the entire world is unhappy about it, that's up to them, but Sāmoa will stand with the land of God." The International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, which says it represents evangelical Christians "who stand with Israel and the Jewish people based on biblical principles and promises", has a branch in Samoa.[2] The Guardian reported that a march in Samoa's capital calling for a ceasefire in Gaza was outnumbered by a counter-protest organised by evangelical churches, at which hundreds waved Israeli flags.[3]
Israeli state and commercial ties
Diplomacy
The Israeli foreign ministry's 2011 list of missions records relations with Samoa as established in June 1977, with "Israel" represented by a non-resident ambassador based at the foreign ministry in Jerusalem.[1] 1News reported that Samoans have long enjoyed visa-free travel to "Israel".[4]
Political interference
UN voting
According to 1News, Samoa did not vote on the General Assembly's October 2023 resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.[4] Samoa voted for the resolution of 12 December 2023 demanding an "immediate humanitarian ceasefire", according to The Diplomat.[5] In September 2024 it abstained on the resolution demanding that "Israel" end its "unlawful presence" in the Occupied Palestinian Territory within 12 months.[6] Samoa abstained on the September 2025 General Assembly resolution endorsing the New York Declaration on a two-state solution.[7]
See also
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Australia
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Fiji
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Kiribati
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to the Marshall Islands
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to the Federated States of Micronesia
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Nauru
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to New Zealand
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Palau
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Papua New Guinea
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to the Solomon Islands
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Tonga
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Tuvalu
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Vanuatu
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Diplomatic Missions Abroad: Status of relations mfa.gov.il, archived 5 August 2011.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Nic Maclellan, Palestine and the Pacific Inside Story, 7 October 2025, accessed 25 October 2026.
- ↑ Jonathan Yerushalmy, As censure increases over war in Gaza, Israel finds support among Pacific Islands The Guardian, 6 September 2025, accessed 25 October 2026.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Indira Stewart, Israel and the Pacific – a surprisingly close 'friendship' 1News, 10 March 2024, accessed 25 October 2026.
- ↑ Logan Green, Pacific Island States Continue Disproportionate Support of Israel at the UN The Diplomat, 16 December 2023, accessed 25 October 2026.
- ↑ UN outliers: 7 Pacific states vote against resolution to end Israel's 'unlawful presence' in Palestine RNZ, 19 September 2024, accessed 25 October 2026.
- ↑ United Nations General Assembly, Recorded vote on A/80/L.1/Rev.1: Endorsement of the New York Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, 12 September 2025 (copy hosted by Al-Quds Al-Arabi).